Apparatus for generating combustible gas



May 22,` 1934.

W. H. HERMSDORF APPARATUS FOR GENERTING COMBUSTIBLE GAS Filed Jan. 2, 1931 @iii Patented May 22, 1934 UNITED STATES f y l' V1,960,108

APPARATUS FOR GENERATINGA COMBUSTIBLE GAS Walter H. Hermsdorf, Chicago, Ill., assigner, by

mesne assignments,'to S. H. G. Incorporated, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Delaware Application January 2, 1931, Serial No. 506,167

3 Claims. l (Cl. 48-107) v This invention relates to improvements in a combustible gas generating device particularly adaptable for generating a combustible gasl by associating the vapor of a combustibleliquid and air. f v

The utility, objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent from the accompanying drawing and following detail description.

In the drawing, Fig.` 1 is a diagrammatic sidev a sectional view taken on line 3--A-3 of compartment 4, saidliquid compartment being adapted to contain a ,combustible liquid such as hydrocarbon fluid, alcohol', or in general any fluid 25. which when properly associated with air produces a combustible gas which may or industrial purposes.

The tank 1 may, if desired,A be buried in the ground 5 and may be provided with a suitable filler pipe (not shown) which may extend to the surface of the ground and through which combustible iluid may be introduced into the liquid compartment 3.v A liquid level gauge 6 may be be used for home disposed upon the upper portion of the liquid" compartment 3, the operating mechanism of which may( depend downwardly into said liquid compartment, as shown diagrammatically at' 7. A casing 8 may be mounted upon the upper portion of said tank and may be provided with a suitable removable closure (not shown) which may be disposed adjacent the's'urface of the ground.

^ A pipe 9 may communicate with liquid compartment 3 of tank 1 concentrically disposed within which is a liquid pipe 10 which may depend into the interior of compartment 3.

Pipe 9 may be connected at its upper end to a conventional cross coupling 11 and pipe 10 may extend through said coupling and may be prop' erly tted thereto by means of bushing 12. An

elbow or the like 13 may be connected at the upper end of pipe 10 and may serve as a communi` eating means between said pipe and pipe 14, the

latter being connected to valve 15. A union 16y may be interposed in pipe 14 and may be adapted system. Valve 15, if desired, may be of an automatic type such as a solenoidally operated valve which may be op'ened or closed by energizing or de-energizing the solenoid contained within the valve, The opposite side of valve 15 may be connected by means of pipe 17 and tubing 18 to a' vaporizer 19, the details of' which will be hereinafter more fully described. The tubing 18 may be constructed of copper or brass and may be wound intermediate its length in the form of a coil 20 upona suitable core or spool 21.A

. It has been found in passing liquid from aliquid 4compartment to a vaporizing zone such as has been hereinbefore described, that it has been de.

' sii-ame to accurately contra the quantity of nquid relatively larger cross-sectional area and make the length of s aid latter tubing greater. In this manner, flow of they liquid rtherethrough is decreased by the frictional resistance of the conduit rather than by its restricted area. By this arrangement foreign particles of solid material entrained in said liquid do not clog the tubing 18 which would undoubtedly be the case if said tubing was of relatively restricted cross-sectional area..

A blower or air compressor 22 may be operated by a motor or the like 23 which may be positioned within a building 24' and which, if desired, may be remotely disposed from tank 1. The outlet port of said-blower may be connected by means of pipe 24 to a pressure regulating device 25. ATwo branch pipes 26 and 27 may communicate with the element 25 vand the construction of said latter element is such that free passage of air from pipe 24 to pipe 26 is permitted, but air will not pass from pipe 24 to pipe 27 until the pressure within said element reaches a predetermined maximum. Devices of this character, that is devicessimilar to the element 25, are commonly used, and it is believed vneed no detailed descrip- A check valve 28 of the conventional type may be interposed in pipe 26, said valve being adapted to open away fromelement 25. Pipe 26 may be joined with downwardly extending pipe 29 by means of T 30 connected'to one legof which, by

means of nipple 31, is a pressurel indicating gauge 32. Pipe 29 may be connected by means of elbow 33. to a branch pipe 34, which in turn may.

26, 29 and 34 and said air will be introducedfrom cross coupling 11 by means of pipe 9 into the upper portion of liquid compartment 3, thereby establishing superatmospheric pressure within said compartment.

When superatmospheric pressure has been established in compartment 3 liquid in said compartment will be forced upwardly through pipe 10, which extends downwardly into said. liquid, and will be passed through pipe 14 through solenoid operated valve 15, assuming the same lto be opened, through tubing 18 to vaporizer 19 wherein the same will be suitably admixed with air to form a combustible gas, as will be hereinafter more fully described.

It can readily be seen that when air under pressure passes to liquid zone 3 and a vsuperatmospheric pressure is built up within said zone the pressure within pipe 26, and hence Within element 25 will be increased until said pressure reaches a predetermined maximum value atr which element 25 will act to permit air from blower 22 to pass through pipe 27 and pipe 35 to vaporizer 19. In this manner a suitable quantity of air will be introduced to said vaporizer to mix with the liquid introduced thereinto.

Referring particularly to Figs. 2 and v3, the vaporizer 19 may comprise a container 36 which may, if desired, be constructed circularly in crosssection, or the cross-section of the same may be of any desired form. A second member 37 of form similar to the container 36 may be adapted to surround said container, and a space may be provided between the respective bottoms of the container and the member 37. Said space: may be filled with an insulating material such or porcelain or the like 38. The upper portion of said porcelain insulation may be provided with a plurality of concentric annular grooves or, if desired, said grooves may be formed in the shape of a spiral. Electric heating element 39 may be disposed in said groove and may be connected to an external source of electricity in a manner which will be hereinafter more fully described.

The upper portion ofthe container 36 may be provided with a closure 40 which may be mounted upon said container by means of bolts 4l. A conduit 42 may be mounted upon the upper portion of the closure 40, the interior of said conduit being connected to the interior of the container 36 by means of slot 43 provided both in the lower surface of the conduit 42 and registering with a similar slot in said closure. The liquid pipe 18 may pass diametrically through conduit 42 and may discharge within container 36 at substan-- tially right-,angles to the bottom of said container. The air pipe 35 connects at one end of the conduit 42 and the opposite end of said conduit is connected by means of pipe 44 to gas compass upwardly through slot 43 and into conduit i2- and maybe positively induced into said conduit by the passage of air through the same. In other words, air passing through the pipe 35 and conduit 42 will act as an injector in withdrawing the vapors from the vaporizing chamber. The vapors will thus be admixed with air and a combustible gas may be formed which may be carried through pipe 44 to gas chamber 4. In this manner a combustible gas may be formed which may be carried through' pipe 44 to gas chamber 4. Gas from the chamber 4 may be withdrawn through pipe 45, which in turn is connected to branch pipe 46 which may pass into building 24 or to any point of utilization. Pipe 44 may be connected to service pipe 47, and 'interposed in said latter pipe may be a conventional pressure reducing valve 48 which may reduce the pressure of the gas from compartment pressure to a suitabley pressure desirable for consumption purposes. A pipe 48 may connect the reducing valve 48 to the atmosphere. A mercoid switch 49 or any other suitable ,pressure actuated switch may be interposed in the pipe 46, the purpose of which switch will be hereinafter more fully described.

In carrying out `my invention, atmospheric pressure will initially exist within liquid compartment 3 and gas compartment 4. Motor .23 may be actuated, thereby driving air compressor or blower 22, which in turn may deliver air to the member 25. The member 25 may be so adjusted that when a predetermined pressure has been reached within said member, pipes 24 and 27 will be brought into .communication with each other. Air under pressure will pass from member 25 through pipe 26, pipe 29 and pipe 34 to cross coupling l1 from whence the air passes downwardly through pipe 9 .to the interior of the liquid compartment 3. Compartment 3 may be previously supplied with a quantity of combustible liquid, such as gasoline, pentane, hexane, benzol, alcohols, or in general any combustible liquid which when suitably admixed with air may produce a combustible gas. As air is introduced into liquid compartment 3 the pressure within said compartment may raise, thereby passing liquid upwardly through pipe 10, pipe 14, tubing 18 and into vaporizer 19. When the pressure within liquid compartment 3 Areaches a predetermined maximum, that is, the maximum for which the member 25 may be set, said member operates to permit communciation'between pipe 24 and pipe 27, thereby permitting air under pressure to pass from blower 22 to conduit 42.

The liquid passing through pipe 18 from liquid compartment 3 may be discharged Within container 36 and upon contacting the bottom of said container may be heated and vaporized. 'I'he vapors may be induced upwardly through slot 43 into conduit 42 wherein the same are admixed with the air under pressure passing through pipe 35. Said admixed vapor and air may pass through pipe 44 into gas compartment 4.

Referring particularly to Fig. 4, a schematic diagram of the electrical connections of the various instrumentalities utilized in connection with my invention are shown, wherein the terminals a and b may indicate any Suitable source of electricity. As a feature of my invention, the heating element 39 disposed in the vaporizer 19 may be divided into a plurality of sections. One section of said heating element may be energized at all times, whereas the remaining sections thereof may be energized only when gas is being generated.- To accomplish this end, I may consource is passed directly through heating element" 39', which in the preferred embodiment of my invention may comprise the inner portion of heating element 39 as disposed in the insulating material A38.

It can-readily be seen that by the provision of heating element 39 and the maintenance of said heating elementin energized condition the ternperature of the vaporizer may be maintained at a desired elevated degree. It can also be seen that when blower 22 is in operation as liquid passes from the liquid compartment 3 to the vaporizer 19, said liquid will tend to coolv the vaporizer. To compensate for this cooling action I may provide means for the energization of the second portion 39" of the heating element 39, which energization may take place simultaneously with the operationof the blower 22and hence simultaneously with the introduction of liquid into the vaporizer. The portion 39" of the heating elementv which `may be energized intermittently, as hereinbefore described, may occupy the outer portion of the element 39 disposed within the insulating material 38. That portion of the heating element 39" which is intermittently heated may be connected at one end by means-of lead 51 to the terminal a. The opposite end of said heating element may -be connected by means of lead 52 to mercoid switch 49, the opposite terminal of which may be connected which may. drive blower 22 may be connected solenoid 15' and heating element 39".

across leads 51v and 52 and may also be controlled by mercoid switch 49. In addition, the solenoid 15' of valve 1 5 may be connected across said leads and may also be controlled by mercoid switch or pressure-operated switch 49.

The arrangement is such that when the gas pressure within compartment 4 reaches a predetermined maximum, and hence the pressure within pipe 46 reaches said maximum,l mercoid switch 49 may act to automatically disconnect motor 23, solenoid 15' and heating element 39 simultaneously. When the pressure within gas compartment 4 reaches a predetermined minimum mercoid switch 49 may act to energize motor. 23, In this manner air under pressure may be deliveredto liquid compartment 3 passing aquantity of said liquid from said compartment through valve 15, which may have been opened by the energization of solenoid 15 to vaporizer 19, the entire heating element of which -has been energized/1n this manner the pressure within `gas compartment 4 may be raised by the introduction of the mixed air and vapor from the vaporizer 19, and when said pressure reaches a predetermined maximum the lmercoid switch 49 may act to stop the blower 22, close the valve 15 and de-energize the heating element l39". By energizing the element 39" simultaneously withA the introduction of liquid into the'vaporizer 19,`the temperature of. said vaporizer may be maintained substantially constant. Also, by maintaining the element 39 in heated condition the `initially introduced liquid from pipe 18 will impinge upon a heated surface immediately upon its introduction into the vaporizer 19 and `will be vaporized. If this were not the case liquid would be introduced to said cold vaporizer and would tend to accumulate there,

ent at the vaporizer when the air is introduced thereto.

and hencethe generation of gas would lag behind the operation of the blower. f

As a feature-of my invention, I may provide a vaporizer which may have a substantial heated surface area `which may facilitate the immediate removal of vapor as the same is formed and will eliminate any back pressure due to said change of state of-the liquid to avapor and the expansion caused thereby. It can readily beseen that if the vapors arising from the heated surface within the `vaporizer were hindered, for instance, by impinging a liquid upon a small heated area, to immediately leave said surface' when they reached the vapor state, that the capacity of the device would be seriously limited.

As another feature of my invention, by the provision of the member 25 the pressure imparted to the liquid passing through pipe 10 and intovaporizer 19 afterthe initial stages of operation will be substantially constant, and a suicient time lag exists between the passage of air to the liquid compartment and the passage of 'air to the vaporizer to permit the liquid to be pres- If this were ot the case and air was initially simultaneousl passed from the liquid compartment and the vaporizer, a' substantial quantity of air may be passed into. the gas'compartment 4 before any liquid would be introduced to the'vaporizer, and hence a diluted -gas would result.

As an example of operating conditions, mercoid switch 49 may be adjusted to operate when the pressure within chamber 4 reaches a predetermined maximum, say approximately four or ve pounds per square inch, more or less, to shut off motor 23, de-energize solenoid 15' and' element 39", It may also be set to connect motor 23, solenoid 15 and element 39" into circuit when the gas pressure-reaches a predetermined minimum, say, for instance, one and one-half to two pounds per square inch, more or less. Inasmuch as the, dew-point,I or the temperature at which liquid entrained in ay gas separates therefrom, is lower at lower pressures, it can be seen that the ideal pressure to be maintained in the gas compartment. will be determined by the average climatic temperatures encountered where my invention may be used. v

lSince the quantity of combustible liquid admixed with a'predetermined quantity of air is a determining factor in the production of a gas of constant caloric value, andV that the quantity of liquid is in turn a function of the pressure within the.v liquid compartment 3, it is vapparent that relatively constant pressure within said compartment is desirable and vmay be maintained by the provision of the relief valve 25. The pressure at which the liquid -compartment is'maintained, that is, the pressure at which the relief valve 25 is set, is `dependent 4upon various factors including the vapor pressure of the particular combustible'liquid used, the desired B. t. u. content of lthe resultant gas, the type of blower, that is, whether of the rotary type or' of the compressor type, and other factors among which may be mentioned the sensitivity of the relief valve.

When pentane is used as the combustible liquid, heating element 39 maybe so designed as to maintain the bottom of the vaporizer, when no liquid passes thereto, at a temperature of about F., more or less, and when liquid passes thereto additional heat may be imparted to said vaporizer by the energization of element 39'. to 1 maintain said vaporizer at approximately the same temperature. However, it is to be understood that the temperature at which the vaporizer 19 is to be maintained will be Jvdependent upon the vaporizing temperature of the particular combustible liquid used.

It is to be understood, of course, that the herein mentioned constants aiecting operating conditions, are given for purposes of illustration and are not intended to limit my invention.

For purposes of additionally controlling the passage of liquid from the compartment 3 to the vaporizer 19, a control valve 17 may be inter- ,said chamber, a vaporizer, means for passing liquid from said chamber to said vaporizerl means for heating said vaporizer, and means for passing air under pressure to said vaporizer when the pressure Within said liquid compartment reaches a predetermined (maximum.

2. In combination, a combustible gas generating device comprising a chamber for combustible liquid, means for passing air under pressure to said chamber,` a. vaporizer, means for passing liquid from said chamber to said vaporizer, means for heating said vaporizer comprising an electrical heating element divided into a plurality of sections, one section being energized substantially simultaneously with the introduction of liquid to said vaporizer, and means for passing air under pressure to said vaporizing zonev when the pressure Within ,said liquid compartment reaches a predetermined maximum. v

3. In combination, a combustible gas generating device comprising a chamber for combustible liquid, -means for passing air under pressure to said chamber, a vaporizer comprising a receptacle having a bottom of relatively enlarged area, means for passing liquid from said chamber to said vaporizer, means for heating the bottom of said vaporizer, and meanscfor passing air under pressure to said vaporizer when the pressure Within said liquid compartment reaches a prerdetermined maximum.

WALTER H. HERMSDORF. 

